Zimanek: More quarterback challenges await UGA

Posted: Sunday, October 21, 2001

Georgia coach Mark Richt met with Kentucky quarterback Jared Lorenzen at midfield Saturday following the Bulldogs' come-from-behind 43-29 win, and any observer could tell Richt was impressed with what he had just seen.

Brad

Zimanek

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Richt realized he had dodged a bullet -- a very large one.

The 275-pound Lorenzen, who had just regained his starting job this week, nearly picked the defenseless Wildcats up on his broad shoulders and carried them to a win over the Bulldogs during homecoming at Sanford Stadium.

Nothing against previous starter Shane Boyd, but Richt said he got sick to his stomach when Kentucky coach Guy Morriss announced Tuesday that Lorenzen would start.

It didn't take long for Georgia fans to get queasy Saturday.

On the Wildcats' first play, Lorenzen eluded a rush, broke two tackles and side-stepped two other pursuers on an 18-yard gain.

''How in the hell did he pull that one off,'' Bulldogs senior linebacker Will Witherspoon said. ''I just kept thinking to myself, he just can't have that against us all day.''

But Lorenzen did. He swatted away defensive linemen as if they were flies and then scrambled (a team-high 61 yards rushing) or found open receivers down field (completing 32 of 54 passes for 377 yards and two touchdowns).

Most of the Bulldogs who tried to hit Lorenzen above the waist came back to the huddle or sideline with nothing but bruised egos.

''I think everybody had to try it (to hit him high) once,'' Witherspoon said. ''You're thinking, for the most part, that he's a quarterback. You think, I've got this guy. You don't think it's going to be this difficult.''

Practically every Bulldog defender had a Lorenzen story.

Defensive end Charles Grant, who bounced off Lorenzen like a pinball once in the first half, had to explain himself to defensive line coach Rodney Garner.

''Coach was telling me different ways to get him down and I was like, 'Coach, this dude is HUGE, HUGE ... He's bigger than me,' '' said Grant, who is listed at 267 pounds. ''He's a giant walking.''

The Bulldogs tried everything. One of theories was to hit him hard, hold on and wait for reinforcements. Another was to try to hit him and to pin his throwing arm to his body, but Lorenzen often wiggled his hips to break free.

The pinnacle of frustration came in the second quarter when Georgia defensive end Bruce Adrine hit Lorenzen hard as he released the ball and sent it fluttering down field.

''I thought I had him,'' Adrine said.

Aaron Boone plucked the wounded duck was plucked out of the air for a 26-yard touchdown that put Kentucky up 22-7 with 7:04 left before halftime.

''We were well aware that he's a big body, but I didn't think we would have as much problems as we did though in bringing him down,'' Georgia defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder said. ''But I was more concerned with what happened at the end of the play. What should probably be an interception turns into a touchdown. That's really disappointing. ...

''I think we were saying the right things to our kids on the sidelines in terms of trying to stay a hold of him, but, golly ...''

Georgia may have had three sacks (statistics don't become official until today), but even with the win many of the defensive players left the game with an empty feeling. The Bulldogs allowed 493 yards of total offense. They have allowed more than 400 yards in each of the last three games.

Florida, with the nation's No. 1 offense that is averaging 551 yards of total offense and 439 yards per game through the air, is next.

''I think fans are going to be no different than me,'' VanGorder said. ''They are going to be very concerned. I think there are obvious areas of concern.''

The Bulldogs, who will try to batter Heisman Trophy candidate Rex Grossman like Auburn did two weeks ago in its upset of Florida, can take solace in one fact heading into next week's game in Jacksonville, Fla.